BACKGROUND: A discrimination between benign and malignant melanocytic lesions is not always possible by conventional histology. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the proliferative activity in various types of melanocytic neoplasms and to appraise its value as a diagnostic adjunct. METHODS: The growth fraction was assessed immunohistochemically in 398 melanocytic lesions by means of the monoclonal antibody Ki-S5 directed to the Ki-67 antigen. In this way, a cut-off level was defined and applied to 112 lesions of equivocal histology. The revised diagnoses were correlated to the clinical courses. RESULTS: Common nevi, Spitz nevi, and melanomas exhibited significantly different proliferation indices and distinctive distribution patterns of cycling cells. In agreement, malignancy diagnosed on the basis of a growth fraction greater than 5% was confirmed by disease progression in 68% of our cases with uncertain diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Determination of the proliferative activity in melanocytic lesions may usefully complement conventional histology to improve diagnostic accuracy.
BACKGROUND: A discrimination between benign and malignant melanocytic lesions is not always possible by conventional histology. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the proliferative activity in various types of melanocytic neoplasms and to appraise its value as a diagnostic adjunct. METHODS: The growth fraction was assessed immunohistochemically in 398 melanocytic lesions by means of the monoclonal antibody Ki-S5 directed to the Ki-67 antigen. In this way, a cut-off level was defined and applied to 112 lesions of equivocal histology. The revised diagnoses were correlated to the clinical courses. RESULTS: Common nevi, Spitz nevi, and melanomas exhibited significantly different proliferation indices and distinctive distribution patterns of cycling cells. In agreement, malignancy diagnosed on the basis of a growth fraction greater than 5% was confirmed by disease progression in 68% of our cases with uncertain diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Determination of the proliferative activity in melanocytic lesions may usefully complement conventional histology to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Authors: Kenneth G Linden; Sancy A Leachman; Jonathan S Zager; James G Jakowatz; Jaye L Viner; Christine E McLaren; Ronald J Barr; Philip M Carpenter; Wen-Pin Chen; Craig A Elmets; Joseph A Tangrea; Sung-Jig Lim; Alistair J Cochran; Frank L Meyskens Journal: Cancer Prev Res (Phila) Date: 2014-03-10
Authors: P Rudolph; C Schubert; S Tamm; K Heidorn; A Hauschild; I Michalska; S Majewski; G Krupp; S Jablonska; R Parwaresch Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 4.307